16 leave, 10 in talks, 54 stay - Sunderland retained list predictions updated amid transfer and contract decisions

Sunderland’s retained list is still to be formally confirmed, but the picture is already beginning to take shape across the first team and academy.

As ever at this stage of the season, some decisions are already clear, some that The Echo understands have been made, and others that can be worked out fairly easily based on contracts, loan agreements and wider circumstances.

But as things stand, Sunderland are heading into another important summer with a number of contract calls already made and several more still being worked through. Here are our latest updated predictions for June:

First-team contract calls

The first-team picture is relatively straightforward in some areas. Lutsharel Geertruida is due to return to RB Leipzig at the end of his loan spell, while Dennis Cirkin and Dan Neil are both approaching the end of their current deals. Simon Moore’s situation is now clearer, with Sunderland triggering the one-year option in his contract to keep him at the club next season.

It is also understood that Niall Huggins is set to leave when his contract expires this summer. Sunderland hold options to extend both his and Bertrand Traore’s contracts by a further year. If the club want to keep either player, they have the ability to do so. However, at this stage, The Echo predicts that both will leave this summer - although Traore appears more likely to stay than Huggins.

There is more certainty around the bulk of Régis Le Bris’ squad, with a large number of senior players already under contract for next season. That group includes goalkeepers Anthony Patterson, Melker Ellborg and Robin Roefs, defenders Dan Ballard, Luke O’Nien, Omar Alderete, Timothee Pembele, Jenson Seelt, Leo Hjelde, Reinildo Mandava, Nordi Mukiele, Trai Hume, Arthur Masuaku and Aji Alese, plus midfielders Chris Rigg, Habib Diarra, Alan Browne, Noah Sadiki, Enzo Le Fée and Granit Xhaka.

Further forward, Simon Adingra, Chemsdine Talbi, Brian Brobbey, Eliezer Mayenda, Romaine Mundle, Wilson Isidor, Nilson Angulo, Nazariy Rusyn, Luis Hemir Semedo and Jocelin Ta Bi are also under contract for next season as Sunderland begin planning for another summer window under Florent Ghisolfi.

Academy picture taking shape

At academy level, the picture is more complicated, as it always tends to be. Sunderland have several young players already under contract for next season, while several others have been offered deals or remain in negotiations over their futures.

The Echo understands Ben Metcalf is set to stay for at least another year after Sunderland triggered a one-year option in his deal. The young goalkeeper, who has represented Northern Ireland at youth level, is expected to continue his development at the Academy of Light and could also be considered for another loan move.

Jenson Jones and Luke Bell have also had one-year extensions triggered, while Matty Young has signed a new deal after an impressive loan spell at Salford City. Young is not expected to return to Salford for a third season, with the feeling that a new challenge is now required.

Joe Cowan and Isaac Allan are also under contract for next season, giving Sunderland a strong group of young goalkeepers despite some departures in that department. Elsewhere in the academy, Ben Kindon, Jaydon Jones, Elias Lenz, Trey Ogunsuyi, Timur Tutierov, Abdoullah Ba, Milan Aleksic and Ahmed Abdullahi are all under contract for next season.

Expected academy departures

There will, however, be departures. As previously revealed by The Echo, goalkeepers Dan Cameron and Adam Richardson are set to move on this summer. Ivan Struk, George Bell, Jake Waters, Harrison Jones, Ollie Bainbridge, Tom Lavery and Ethan Moore are also expected to leave as their contracts come to an end in June.

Those exits are always difficult, particularly at a club where so many young players have been in the system for years. Some will find opportunities elsewhere in the EFL, National League or further down the pyramid, while others will have to consider different routes within or outside football.

Harrison Jones, Timur Tutierov and Zak Johnson are all expected to be listed as retained when Sunderland publish their official end-of-season update. That may create some confusion, given previous reporting around their futures, but it does not necessarily mean they are part of the club’s long-term plans.

The Echo understands the situation remains that all three players are expected to move on this summer. However, rather than being released with no future value attached, Sunderland are understood to be looking to protect the club’s position. That means the trio are not necessarily expected to leave straight away, but the expectation remains that departures will follow.

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A small fee and/or sell-on clause could be attached to any potential exits, allowing Sunderland to retain some future benefit if the players go on to progress elsewhere. In practical terms, that is why they are expected to appear on the retained list despite their long-term futures lying away from the Stadium of Light.

Professional deals, talks and scholars moving up

Sunderland are also working through a number of contract talks with academy players who have either been offered professional deals or are in negotiations over improved terms. That group includes Marcus Neill, Jack Whittaker, Finn Geragusian, Finlay Holcroft, Joe Neild, Bayley Hester, Felix Scott, Liam Hunt, Charlie Dinsdale and Archie Lightfoot.

Sunderland’s first-year scholars are also under contract for next season and will move into their second year. That group includes Finn Robertson, Aaron Bowman, Charlie Forsyth, Robert Walton, Tom Proctor, Matthew Burns, Jay Brown, Alex Lienard, Caleb Shakespeare and Jay Matadeen. Predicted Sunderland retained list in full:

Staying/under contract - 54

• Anthony Patterson
• Melker Ellborg
• Robin Roefs
• Simon Moore - option triggered
• Matty Young
• Ben Metcalf
• Joe Cowan
• Isaac Allan
• Dan Ballard
• Luke O’Nien
• Omar Alderete
• Timothee Pembele
• Jenson Seelt
• Leo Hjelde
• Reinildo Mandava
• Nordi Mukiele
• Trai Hume
• Arthur Masuaku
• Aji Alese
• Chris Rigg
• Habib Diarra
• Alan Browne
• Noah Sadiki
• Enzo Le Fée
• Granit Xhaka
• Simon Adingra
• Chemsdine Talbi
• Brian Brobbey
• Eliezer Mayenda
• Romaine Mundle
• Wilson Isidor
• Nilson Angulo
• Nazariy Rusyn
• Jocelin Ta Bi
• Jenson Jones
• Luke Bell
• Ben Kindon
• Jaydon Jones
• Elias Lenz
• Trey Ogunsuyi
• Abdoullah Ba
• Milan Aleksic
• Ahmed Abdullahi
• Finn Robertson
• Aaron Bowman
• Charlie Forsyth
• Robert Walton
• Tom Proctor
• Matthew Burns
• Jay Brown
• Alex Lienard
• Caleb Shakespeare
• Jay Matadeen
• Luis Hemir Semedo

Leaving/expected to leave - 16

• Lutsharel Geertruida - end of loan
• Dennis Cirkin - approaching end of deal
• Dan Neil - approaching end of deal
• Bertrand Traore - option available
• Niall Huggins - option available
• Dan Cameron
• Adam Richardson
• Ivan Struk
• George Bell
• Jake Waters
• Harrison Jones - will be listed as retained
• Zak Johnson - will be listed as retained
• Timur Tutierov - will be listed as retained
• Ollie Bainbridge
• Tom Lavery
• Ethan Moore

Offered deals/in talks - 10

• Marcus Neill
• Jack Whittaker
• Finn Geragusian
• Finlay Holcroft
• Joe Neild
• Bayley Hester
• Felix Scott
• Liam Hunt
• Charlie Dinsdale
• Archie Lightfoot